Markha Valley Trek with Stok Kangri Climb

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The Markha Valley Trek is one of the most diverse and attractive Himalayan Trek. It has gigantic rock pinnacles, beetling cliffs, slender defiles and prayer-flagged passes.This trek is easily accessible from Leh and offers a large diversity of landscapes. The green oasis of the Markha Valley is guarded by Kang Yatse (6400mts) from east and Zanskar range from the south west.

On the southern skyline of Leh, the stunning Stok Kangri Peak is perfectly suited to someone seeking for the first Himalayan summit. This trek is easily accessible from Leh and offers a large diversity of landscapes. We visit some of the great monasteries at Thiksey. We will cross the Kongmaru la 5150 meters before Nimaling below theimpressive peak of Kang yatse 6400 mtrs. Approaching at base camp, we take a straight forward route to summit.

From any of the high points we can have tremendous views of the Korakoram Saser Kangri peak (7670mts), Stok Kangri (6150mts), Kang Yatse 6400mts and Nun Kun (7135mts.). During this trek we will go through many scattered high villages, each with irrigated fields of barley, wheat and mustard which adds brilliance to the landscape of this broken moon land, and Markha valley trek is a part of Hemis National Park, which also an opportunity of spotting wild animals.

Day 01: Zingchen to Ganda La base (3-4 hours)

Early in the morning drive by jeep to Zingchen and after lodging the horses we will enter Hemis National Park, where we may be fortunate enough to get a glimpse of wildlife as diverse as the Snow leopard, lynx, Ladakhi Urial (a type of goat), Arghali (great Tibetan sheep), Blue sheep, Red fox, Tibetan wolf, Dhole (wild dog), Marmot and Mountain hare. After paying the entrance fee, we will climb gradually through a beautiful gorge that will unveil the imposing Stok range from time to time. Before reaching Rumbak, we will stop at a teahouse run by women from the village. After a warm cup of tea, we will continue through Rumbak, and pass by the house of Yurutse village, before reaching camp at the base of Ganda La (4545m). From our campsite, we can see a spectacular view of Stok Kangri and the whole of the Stok range.

Day 02: Ganda La base to Skiu via Gandala 4900 m (6-7 hours)

After a light breakfast, we will begin our 2-hr ascend to Ganda La; views of the lofty Zanskar and Stok Ranges will leave you breathless. The usual chorten and prayer flags mark the top of the pass, where one may see blue sheep and marmots roaming the hills. After a short rest, we will make a gradual, hour-long descent to Shingo and break for lunch. We will finish the day by hiking through a spectacular gorge before pitching camp at Skiu (3300m). Within this idyllic village lies an old monastery and ruins of an old castle (once a rest stop for the Royal family on their way to Srinagar).

Day 03: Skiu to Markha (7-8 hours)

Following the Markha River, we will hike through the lovely valley on a fairly level path. The trail crosses the river at various points, and passes through winter settlements that contain Lhatos (religious shrines for local deities) and Mani walls (stones inscribed with Buddhist prayers). During peak season, a number of tented teahouses will be open, providing hearty refreshments. After crossing the river for the last time, we will arrive in Markha, the largest village in the valley, consisting of around 20 houses, an old monastery and a ruined fort.

Day 04: Markha to Thachungtse (5-6 hours)

The Markha valley trail continues past old stone-mills, a ruined castle and the auspicious monastery of Techa, which is proudly perched on a towering cliff that looms above Markha, well worth visiting if we have the energy. The path then intersects the river several times before cutting through the last hamlets in the valley. After leaving the village of Umlung, we will have our first view of Kang Yatse (6400m), which will stay in sight until we cross Kongmaru La. After we break for lunch in the village of Hangkar (the last in the valley), we will press onward to the lovely green pasture of Thachungste, where we will camp.

Day 05: Thachungtse to Nimaling (4 hours)

Today the trail will lead us up to the beautiful plateau of Nimaling, where the people of the Markha Valley bring their herds to graze during the summer months. At 4700m, Nimaling is the highest camp on the trek, giving us spectacular views of Kang Yatse to the right, the Zangskar Range and the Markha Valley below.

Day 06: Nimaling to Shangsumdo via Kongmarula 5200 m (7 hours)

After a hearty breakfast, we will cross Kongmaru La, the highest pass on the trek. Here we have a wonderful view of the surrounding mountains and valleys. The 2-hour descent is quite steep, but will gradually level as we enter Shang Gorge, with its strange and other worldly rock formations. More river crossings bar our way before we arrive at the sour-spring of Chuskurmo (used in traditional medicine by the Amchi doctors). After a break, we will pass through a couple of villages before reaching Shang Sumdo, where the jeep will be waiting for you with fresh supplies and the climbing guide with all climbing gears and then we will go through Hemis, Thicksey and Shey before camping at Stok trekking point.

Day 07: Stok – Mancarmo (4 – 5 hrs)

After breakfast at Stok trekking point the pony man will load our big backpacks on the horses that are waiting for us. With our small daypacks we head off for Mancarmo through a beautiful valley, where there are unusual rock formations that point skywards in orange, purple and green colors. Mancarmo (4250 m) is the summer pasture of Stok villagers.

Day 08: Mancarmo – Base Camp (3-4 hrs)

Gradually we go higher into a desolate area, which is inhabited only by marmots and blue sheep. Surrounded by high mountains, we, at base camp (5020 m), will prepare our self mentally and physically for the big day.

Day 09: Base Camp – Stok-Kangri Summit 6150 m – Base Camp (10-11 hrs)

Depending on weather and snow conditions, we leave early around 1:00 am or 2:00 am. Usually conditions are better in the night/morning, when the sky is clearer because it is colder and the snow will be harder to walk on. We will just take a cup of tea and take our lunch bag, before walking into the night with our torches. However, if it is a full moon night, the moon will guide us in its silvery glow. It is a strenuous walk, and in the last part we will most likely use not only ice axes, but also crampons and, maybe, even rope, depending on snow conditions.

However, by the time we come close to the top, you will forget about the hardships as you are surrounded by one of the most beautiful sights i.e. the Himalayas, lighted up by the slowly rising morning sun. In good weather conditions we can see the Saser group in the Great Karakoram Range, where K2 lies. To bring good fortune, we leave our Khatag, a religious scarf, on the mountaintop with prayer flags. Leaving the peak, we go down to the Base Camp and by the time we arrive, the only thing running in our minds will be crawling back into our sleeping bags for a well deserved rest.

Day 10: Base Camp – Stok (4 hrs)

This morning we will not hurry and by the time we open our eyes, you will realize that you have scaled a peak higher than any mountain in Europe or North America. After breakfast we will walk down to Stok, retracing our footsteps. Drive back to Leh

Travel Facts:

Size Of group: Min 3

Highest Point: Stok Kangri summit 6150 mts

Grade: Medium